, 1887-02-17

jewel case. Silently opening il, he ex-
posed to the astonished vision of the beau
tiful girl n quaint and rare necklace OF
glttterinG diamonds in just such an an
tiquc setting ms would have delighted =
Florcntine jeweler in the middle ages.
"Richardi" the cry escaped Irene's lips
in an agonized tone, as she grasped the
necklace and held it to the light.
"Isn't it pretty" said Richard, with an
injured look.
"Oh, merciful heavensl' exclaimed
Irene. Cant | be mistaken No, it il
too evident-how did you come by this
necklace, Richard, Did you say it was an
heirloom in your familyt'
What q acketi' said Richard, turn
ing pale and speaking very rapidly. Eyes,
it is an ancient heirloom in our family
my great eat-grandmother used to wear
1t; it has never been out OF the family
since it was purchased by an ancestor of
mine, in Paris, 1 think"
Irene gave another searching glance at
the necklace, and then clutched 1t tightly
in her hand.
Orchard Macon" she said, in calm,
clear tones, this was never an heirloom
in your family"
What can you mean-you are beside
yourselfN' gasped Richard.
II mean returned Irene, with n pierre
luB Bhth'tf INN thio htthihtt IN Oht "a
the articles my poor murdered father had
with him when he was killed and robbed
in Georgia four years ago"
"Pshawl' cried Richard. at may re
semble ii, but of course 1t cannot be the
same. Don't l know that it has always
been in our family You are losing your
senses, Irene
II am not mistaken was the agitated
reply. Il have handled this necklace too
often to be mistaken. Why, here is the
private mark, placed there by my father
one day in my presence. l well recollect
that he said at the time tina the mark
might some day aid in Identifying the
necklace II it should ever be lost. 1t is
the same, and now, Richard Macon, how
came you by this precious heirloom
Your question is an insult, " was the
hot answer Give mt the necklace.
Never! This matter must be ex-
planned. must know II your hands are
stained with my fathers blood.
'Confound itr' said Richard, 81 never
even heard that Mr.. Murray was muir
dered. You tall is the maddest mystery
In the world to me-"
MY fathers name was Henderson,
said the girl sternly. "He was murdered
and robbed In n lonely place among the
mountains of Georgia. He had with him
II large sum of money and this jewelry. A
poor devil was tried for the murder, found
guilty and sent to the chain gam for life.
The money and jewels were not found OF
him, and he always protested his innocence
perhaps he told the truth"
"You said your fathers name was Hen
dersons'
YES. After his death a wealthy bach
elor brother of my mother died and left
her a large fortune on condition that she
aIAs.II ~ fla fatnt1tr ~ of NM.
ray, and the condition was exacted of my
self. We accepted the terms, but when n
foul murder Is to be avenged, Irene Muir
raw remembers that she Is Irene Hender-
son.n
Richard Macon looked dumbfounded
II swear he began.
Il will not neal your exclaimed Irene,
her eyes flashing fire. You began with
n lie-you called the necklace an heirloom
YOU will lie Oh to the end of the chapter
II | permit It'll If you have any statement
to make explaining how the necklace
came into your possession, you may pro
coed.
For II III Richard Macon looked
like some wild animal Mt bay. Then.
recollecting himself, he made n profound
bow and said:
Il shall leave you now, lrene-you are
in no mood to listen to reason. In the
morning you will laugh at your d
of tonight and will beg my pardon. |
shall leave you here. Au r~evoir,' and
with II mocking smile he kissed his hand
and walked rapidly away, leaving Irene
standing like n statue, with the necklace
cluiched tightly in her hand.
When morning came, just as the gray
light was chasing the darkness away, IA
.,.fal ul,At ,n.a lrn..l fhn hAtnl n1,.~
was u rushing to and fro, and finally II
crowd OF servants and boarders stood in
Richard Macon's room, gazing upon the
dead body of the suicide rs 1t lay stretched
upon the bed, with n pistol firmly grasped
in the right hand
Richard Macon he'd taken his own life.
1t was net the fear OF the law that i'm
PEELED him to this rash step-he felt able
to hold his own against the world. But
he knew that no deceit, however artful,
would clear him in the eyes of Irene Muir
ray, and death was q thousand times pref
cradle to life with the ever present sense
of her loathing and confident suspicion Of
his guilt.
The miserable man left Il sealed letter
for Irene Murray. In II was a true recital
of the facts of the case. The proposition
of the convict Joe was stated, and the
writer told how he yielded to temptation
how he induced the prisoner, by promis-
ing him freedom, to disclose the hiding
place OF Henderson's money and jewels,
and how, when he had ascertained what
he wanted. H. had treacherously and
coolls shot the convict down like II dog,
| and afterward made use OF the scoundrel's
hidden plumber. The letter wa written
with devilishness GOODNESS, but at the close
the writer expressed his undying affection
for Irene, and begged her to forgive his
madness, folly and guilt.
The butterflies OF the social world ut
Bsgatelle could not fathom the mystery Of
Macon's suicide. They did not know the
contents OF his letter to Irene, and it was
not until Irene was happily married, n
couple of years later, that any one knew
it. She told her husband all about it one
day, and he, for an answer, merely folded
her in his arms and kissed her. -Wallace
p. Reed in Atlanta Constitution.